Electric circuit maker and breaker



Nov. 19, 1929.

A. P. HOLDEN ET AL ELECTRIC CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Filed June 29.

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- lnventamt.

70W i iifi 2 Patented Nov. 19, 15929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHURP. HOLDEN AND PHILIP MORGAN, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA ELECTRICCIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Application filed June 29,

The principal objects of the invention are, to eliminate the possibilityof flooding oil in furnaces, in the event of the failure of theignition, and to devise a verysimple and positive form of mechanism forautomatically cutting out the control of the motive power.

The principal feature of the invention consists in the novelconstructionof a casing pivotally mounted on the overflow pipe from thefurnace in which a float mechanism is operatively connected with anelectric cut out.

- In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of our automatic cutout device shown in the closed position of the switch.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical mid-section through thedevice as shown in Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cut out shown in its tiltedposition for drain In the operatlon of 011 burnlng furnaces where theoil is fed by means of a power-operated pump, it is necessary to providean automatic means of cutting out the amp in the event of the i itionfailing and 1t is also necessary to provide means for emptying the oilfrom the apparatus, so that it may be refilled, and, it is furtherimperative that such apparatus cannot be left in an inoperablecondition.-

In the construction herein shown the overflow pipe 1 which leads fromthe furnace is connected to a suitable pan or other receiver that willcatch the oil from the burner nozzle if it is not being ignited.

The pipe 1 leads outside of the furnace and extends into a casing 2 thedetails of which form the subject matter of a se arate applicationSerial No. 397,048, file October 3, "1929, which is pivotally mountedupon a pin 3 extending through the pipe close to its outer end andthrough the lugs 4 in the sides of the casing. The said casing is formedwith a substantially c lindrical wellportion 5.

The sides of t e lugs 4 form a lip 6 which fits around the undersideofthe pipe 1 and connelcts with the sloping spout-shaped portion A Acover 8 closes the top of the well 5 and 50 is provided with an upwardlyflaring lip 9 to the position shown in Figure 3 w 1925. semi R'o.40,340.

which registers with the side walls of the lugs 4 and allows the casingto be tipped upwardly en said lip engages the top of the pipe 1 andarrests the further movement.

Upon the cover '8 is arranged a pair of upwardly extending standards 10between which by the lower end is pivoted a rocker arm 11.

The long end of the rocker arm extends to over an opening 12 arrangedcentrall above the well 5 and is pivotally connecte to the jaw-shapedstem 13 of the float 14. arranged within said well.

Between the upper ends of the standards 10 is pivotally mounted aartcylindrical casting 15 in which is secured a sealed tube 16containing a quantity of mercury.

A pair of electrical contacts 17 are secured in one end ofthe sealedtube 16 and are connected to the wires 18 leading in from the motorcontrol circuit.

- The mercury in the tube is adapted to form an electrical connectionbetween the contacts when the tube is tilted in the position shown inFigures 1 and 2. f The tube holder 15 is provided with a fork lug 19arranged centrally of the length thereof and a spur 20 extendingupwardly from the rocker arm 11 engages said fork lug and when the floatisin its lowermost position 1 said spur holds the tube tipped with thecontact end down as shown particularly in Figure 2.

In the event of oil escaping from the furnace and flowing through thepipe 1, it flows into the well 5 and lifts the float. The lifting of thefloat tilts the rocker arm 11 on its pivot and causesthe mercury to flowto the opposite end, thereby breakin connection between the electricalcontacts 1 As long as the float remains raised it will be impossible forthe. motor to be again started.

A stop lug 21 is arrangedgon the arm 11 to limit the movement of theswitch tube.

A sprin plunger 22 is arranged in the cover '23 c osing' 1n theelectrical so that if it is desired to break the circult to the motor atany time, it may be done by. pressing down upon the plunger.

When the device has operated automatically to cut off the electricalcircuit, it is necessary to drain the oil from the well and this I isaccomplished by the very simple act of tiltingthe casing 2 upon itspivot allowing the oil to flow therefrom out of the spout 7.

The lip'9 prevents the casing from being tipped past the centre ofgravity so that if it is released, it will dro back of its own weight toits normal position and the weight of the float, being unsupported byoil in the well, operates the rocker arm to throw the switch into theposition shown in Figures 1 and 2, when it is ready to again operate.

It will be seen that if oil has been allowed to flow to the safetyswitch herein described the motor cannot be turned on and run withoutcleaning out the well and in emptying the well it cannot be left in aninoperativ position.'

What we claim as our invention is 1. In an electric circuit maker andbreaker, the combination with a rigid overflow pipe, of a casing ada tedto receive the discharge from said over ow pipe, a float in said casing,a cover closing the casing and havin a rigid support extendingthereabove at one side of said casing, an arm pivotally mounted on saidsupport and having one end extending. over said float and pivotallyconnected therewith and having a stop extension at the other end adaptedto engage said cover to limit the movement of the arm, and a tiltingmercury tube switch pivotally mounted at the upper end of said rigidsupport with its axis spaced above the axis of the arm and beingoperativel connected with said arm.

2. In an electric circuit maker and breaker, the combination with arigid overflow pipe, of a casing ada ted to receive the discharge fromsaid ove ow pi e, a float in said casing, a cover closing t e casing andhaving a rigid support extending thereabove at one side of said casing,an arm ivotally mounted on said, support and extending over said floatand pivotally connected therewith, a projection on said arm above itsivotal mounting, and a mercury tube mounted on a pivot s aced directlyabove the pivotal mounting 0 said arm and having a notched entensionoperatively engaged from below by the projection on said arm.

3. In an electric circuit maker and breaker, the combination with a"rigid overflow pipe, of a casing ada ted to receive the discharge fromsaid-ove ow pi e, a float in said casmg a cover closing t e casing andhaving a r1g1d support extending thereabove at one side of said casing,an arm pivotally mounted on said sup rt' and having one end extendmgover said float and pivotally connected therewith, and having a stopextension at the othenend adapted to engage said cover to hmit themovement of the arm, a tilting mercury tube switch pivotally mounted atthe

